AMES, Ia. — This rebuilding process Iowa State basketball Steve Prohm is in charge of is going to take more time than some people might have anticipated. Monday night’s 74-56 loss to Milwaukee is proof.

Poor shot selection. No inside presence. No taking care of the ball.

No season-opening season home win for the first time since losing to Northern Iowa in 1997.

A rebuild?

These Cyclones are in full reboot — after committing 18 turnovers, after the Panthers scored 30 points in the paint and after Iowa State showed next to no offensive rhythm with a lineup that consists of four new starters.

And it came against a team picked to finish seventh in the 10-team Horizon League.

Everyone knew that Iowa State would struggle this season. The unknown, however, was just how much.

Iowa State’s season continues at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against Appalachian State in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Tipoff, which is being held at Coastal Carolina, in Conway, S.C.

It’ll be the first time the Cyclones will be at full strength — Cameron Lard and Hans Brase are expected to be eligible.

The 6-9 Lard, a redshirt freshman, missed the first three games — roughly 10 percent of the season — for breaking an unspecified team rule. Brase, a 6-9 Princeton graduate transfer, missed the exhibition and two regular-season games while recovering from a second ACL surgery.

Iowa State guard Nick Weiler-­Babb (1) tries to keep control of the ball as he drives to the basket against Milwaukee Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, during their game at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
Michael Zamora/The Register

Iowa State guard Lindell Wigginton (5) gets a foul called on him as he pushes past Milwaukee guard Bryce Barnes (0) Monday, Nov. 13, 2017, during their game at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.
Michael Zamora/The Register